Zipporah gil



No. 609,023 Pafented Aug. l6, I898.

. z. a. HARA.

(Application filed June 23, 1897.)

(No Model.)

ATTORNEY WITNESSES NlTED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

SKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,023, dated August16, 1898.

Application filed June 23, 1897. Serial No. 642,005. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ZIPPORAH GILEILLAN HARA, of Bayonne, in the countyof Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented cer tain Improvementsin Skirts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the class of skirts and petticoats whereinmeans are provided for adjusting them to the size of the waist of thewearer and wherein a flap is provided to cover the placket, and theobject is to provide means for varying the size of the opening. of theskirt at the waist without the employment of cumbersome overlappingbelts.

the skirt; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are fragmen tary views of the upperpart thereof, showing different degrees of adjustment of thewaist-opening.

A represents the skirt as a whole, provided with a placket or slit B atthe .back. The material of the rear breadth of the skirt is folded in atthe sides to form a box-plait, which extends up over the placket-openingin the form of a flap C. This plait or flap is secured by stitches at ab, about the lower extremity of the placket or slit, and it is alsostitched across its upper end to maintain its folds in the form of aflap, as shown.

The margins or free edges of the placket are not provided with means forsecuring them together directly, as in other skirts, but each margin ofthe placket is secured detachably to the flap O. In the drawingsordinary hooks and eyes c and d are shown as convenient means ofconnecting the parts.

By the simple means shown various degrees of adjustment of the size ofthe waistopening may be attained, as shown in the drawings. Fig. 1, forexample, illustrates the normal size, the two margins of theplacket-opening being brought together edge to edge; Fig. 2, one marginof the placket is secured to the adjacent edge of the flap 0, therebyenlarging the waist-opening. In Fig. 3 the waist-opening is representedas still more enlarged by securing both margins of the placket to therespective adjacent edges of the flap C, and in Fig. 4,, which is a viewfrom the front, the waist-opening is reduced to an extent less than isshown in Fig. 1, the free margins of the placket being made. to overlap.Of course other dimensions may be effected by placing eyes on the skirtin suitable positions about the waist, but excessive variation in sizein the same skirt is not desirable.

It will be noted that the attachment of the material at one side of theplacket to the edge of the flap C is only made at a single point andthis permits the material of the skirt to adjust itself to the body ofthe wearer below the waist, and especially over the hips,

by turning about the two single points of attachmentat opposite sides ofthe placketopening, the material of the skirt between the points ofattachment being free to adjust itself, as indicated at e in Fig. 4. By

thus leaving the margins of the placket free from each other except asthey are joined through the medium of the flap 0 and by attaching eachmargin at a single point it will be obvious that the body of the skirtwill be permitted to fall gracefully and properly under all of theconditions of adj ustment to waist measure.

As the attachment of the margins of the placket-opening t0 the flap O iseffected below the belt or belt-line, it will be obvious that thisleaves the skirt free to adjust itself without hindrance, an efiect notattainable where the fastening devices are one belt or band on theskirt. Such a belt or band may be put on the skirt shown in thedrawings; but in that case the fastenings will be below it or at thelevel shown. This construction naturally avoids the cumbrous overlappingof belt on belt, which is rendered necessary where the margins of theplacket-opening are directly connected by a belt, and this is,

overlaid by a covering-flap, as in some constructions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- Askirthavingaplacketleading down from its top opening, said skirtcomprising two portions, the major portion forming substantially thecomplete circumference at the top,

the minor portion being in the form of a flap secured to the skirt belowthe placket the said major portion having a series of fastening deviceson opposite sides of the placket and the minor portion or flap havingcomplemental fastenings thereon whereby the entire circumference of theopening at the top of the garment is adjnstably completed substantiallyas shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto setv my handthis 15th day of IO June, 1897.

ZIPPORAH GILFILLAN HARA.

Witnesses:

FRANCES A. SPERRY, ABRAHAM L. SMITH.

